Show-case



(No Model.)

HqSTERN.

. SHOW CASE. No. 381,961. Patented May 1, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY STERN, OF SHELBYVILLE, KENTUCKY.

snow-'c'iAsa.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 381,961, dated May 1,1888.

Application filed January 3,1888. Serial No. 259,609. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY STERN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Shelbyville, in the county of Shelby and State of Ken=tucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Show-Cases, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in show-cases, the object beingto provide a case whereby ribbons, laces, fringes, and similar goodsthat are wound on spools can be shown to the greatest advantage and atthe same time be protected from dust and dirt; and it consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter described, andpointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view ofa show-case embodying the invention. Fig. 2 represents an enlargeddetail view of one of the spools. Fig. 3 represents a side view ofanother form of spool adapted to exhibit fringes. Fig. 4 represents alongitudinal section of a portion of the case.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates a hollow box composedof the boardbottom a and the plate-glass hinged cover a, the verticalglass flanges a. a of the bottom forming four sides of the box. The boxA is supported on and above the counter by the vertical rods B,preferably of metal, and having their lower ends screwed or otherwisesuitably secured to a proper or convenient part of the counter, theupper ends of the rods being similarly secured to the bottom a of thebox.

b b are swinging bars hinged at their upper ends to the lid a, andwhich, when the lid is raised, have their free ends resting on thebottom a to, support the lid.

0 O are transverse bearing-strips secured at suitable intervals apart tothe bottom of the casing or box and extending from the front to the backthereof. The said strips are provided on their sides with thebearing-recesses c c, of which those of the facing sides of adjacentstrips 0 are opposite each other.

D D are spools, the journals of which rest in the bearing-recessesbetween adjacent strips. Each spool is composed of the segmental endpieces, d d, and the journals dhwhich are the end portions of thespindle extended beyond the end pieces. or flat portion d on itsperiphery, which is turned upward when the end is closed, so that thecasing can be made that much shallower. The end pieces d are of largerdiameter than the end pieces d, and pass into the slats E made in thebottom a. By means of the larger end pieces the lacef, hanging from thespools through'the slots F in. the bottom, can easily be rolled on andunrolled from the spindles by operating the spools by the fingers.Should the spools turn too easily,small coiled-wire springs G can beinserted in the bearing-recesses to impinge on the flattened ends oftheir journals; and, if desired, one journal may be extended and thespool wound by a small crank-handle fitting on its squared end.

In showing fringes the spools are set upright in proper bearings in thestrips 0, as the points of the fringe should hang vertically. The mannerof attachingit to the case and exhibiting it is shown in Fig. 1.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. The herein-described show-casefor laces, ribbons, and fringes, and other goods that are wound onspools, which case comprises a shallow box having a bottom provided withsuitable slots for the passage of the goods theret-hrough, narrow glasssides rising from the edge of the bottom, and a hinged glass lid, spoolsjournaled in bearings made in the bottom, and suitable legs or rodssecured to the bottom to support the box a proper distance above thecounter or other rest, substantially as specified.

2. Inashow-case for laces, fringes, &c., the combination, with theshallow box or casing A, provided with the bottom at, having the slots EF, the narrow sides 0. the legs BB, the strips 0 0, having thebearing-recesses c c, and the spools D, consisting of the spindles d,journals of, and end pieces, d (1", each having the straight portion d*on its periphery, substantially as specified.

3. In a show-case for laces, fringes, 820., the combination, with thelegs B B and the shallow box provided with the wooden bottom d,

Each end piece has a straight having the slots E F, the narrow glasssides the sides of the box and extending over said a", and the hingedglass lid a, of the parallel transverse bearing-strips 0, having thebearing-recesscs c, the coiled bearingsprings G in said recesses,and thespools D, each composed of the spindle d, the journals d and the endpieces, d d each having the straight part d on the periphery,substantially as specified.

4. A show-case comprising a shallow box provided with longitudinal andtransverse slots in its bottom, and a spool journaled in slots andprovided with enlarged end pieces working in the transverse slots, asset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my I5 own I have heretoaffixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY STERN.

\Vitnesses:

B. ENGLE, M. GREENER.

